FOILERS

This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, adventure, fear, progression, and finding confidence in the ocean.
How does someone who grew up in the remote outback of Western Australia — with no pool, no ocean, and a fear of water — become a King of the Cut winner and complete the legendary Maui to Molokai crossing?
In this episode of the Foilers Podcast, Pete sits down with WA downwind foiler and Code Foils team rider Krystal Cotterill to unpack her incredible journey from Leonora to some of the wildest ocean runs in Australia and Hawaii.
Krystal shares:
Growing up in the desert with zero water sports background\
Learning to foil during COVID while stranded on a sailboat in the Caribbean
The brutal early days of foiling and why she almost wrote the sport off
Massive downwind runs in WA’s southwest and Ningaloo
Scary moments offshore and the safety gear she relies on
Entering foiling competitions in Australia and Hawaii
Why more women aren’t getting into foiling — and what the industry can do about it
Whether you’re into wing foiling, downwind SUP foiling, or just love stories of people pushing themselves outside their comfort zone, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Enjoy

There’s a new player in the foil assist space—and it’s doing things very differently.
In this episode, I sit down with the AMP Jetboard designer and developer, Chris Reynolds, to unpack the thinking behind this new take on foil assist systems.
From a backyard prototype to a fully engineered product, this is a story of curiosity, persistence - and a completely different approach to getting up on foil.
But here’s the thing - this isn’t just about technology.
It’s about how we ride, where we ride, and who this kind of system is actually for and what is coming down the pipeline.
We get into:
Why this design took a totally different path
Where it shines (and where it doesn’t)
The reality vs expectation for everyday foilers
What’s coming next—and why it matters
If you’ve been watching the evolution of foil-assist systems or wondering where things are headed next, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear. Enjoy!

In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, we go deep into the all-new Cabrinha Union foil system — a complete rethink of their foil design built around stiffness, simplicity, and performance.
Joining me are John Modica (Chairman of Cabrinha) and Lars Moltrup (Product Development Manager) to unpack:
Why the Union system was built from the ground up
The thinking behind the Mike’s Lab inspired connection
How stiffness, drag reduction, and design choices impact real-world riding feel
What makes riders say it feels “buttery smooth” on the water
How to choose between the 760, 905, and 1150 front wings
Why the 905 is the ultimate all-rounder
The role of stabilisers (and why they matter more than most riders think)
A sneak peek at the upcoming Tweaker stabliser and Whippet foil
We also dive into the balance between engineering and rider feel, the realities of building a new foil platform, and Cabrinha’s philosophy of high-performance simplicity without the BS.
If you’re into wing foiling, prone, downwind or just want to understand how modern foil systems are evolving — this is one not to miss.

In this episode of the Foilers Podcast, Pete Walmsley sits down with Western Australian foiler Hugh Mitchell—one of the most inspiring young riders in the sport today.
Hugh’s journey into foiling started in 2019 with his dad’s first foil setup on the Swan River. Just a few years later, he’s chasing adventures across Australia downwind, competing in the legendary Molokai-to-Oahu race in Hawaii, coaching new foilers, running 'The Foil Project' podcast, and producing the adventure film 'Desert Winds'.
In this conversation, Hugh shares the full story behind his rapid rise in foiling—from working at the Foil Shop in Perth to embarking on a 300km remote downwind expedition along Western Australia’s coastline, encountering sharks offshore, and pushing his limits in some of the world’s toughest downwind conditions.
We also dive into:
How Hugh discovered downwind foiling

Lessons from working in the foiling industry

The making of the Desert Winds film

Touring the film around Australia

Racing in the Hawaii Downwind Race Series

Creating and running the 'Project Flow' foiling event

Coaching foilers in Perth

Becoming a sponsored rider

It’s a story about passion, pushing boundaries, and building community in one of the fastest-growing watersports in the world.
If you love foiling, adventure, and the people driving the sport forward, this episode is packed with inspiration.

Chris Doerfel — founder of Hydrofoil Academy Australia at the Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney — joins the FOILERS Podcast to break down what actually helps people learn wing foiling (and prone foiling) faster.
Originally from Austria, Chris has spent 20+ years in ocean sports (windsurfing, kiting, surfing) and explains how COVID kicked off his wing foiling obsession — to the point of doing multiple sessions a day — and how that momentum turned into a coaching program built around making foiling accessible, safe, and fun.
In this episode we get into:
How the foiling scene in Sydney evolved from a tiny crew to a fast-growing community

Why beginner gear has changed massively

The real reason beginners struggle

Chris’s approach: tow behind a boat vs Foil Drive assist (who should do what, and why)

The underrated skills

The most common mistake Chris sees

Why prone foiling is booming in Australia

Gear trends

Big-picture - what foiling can learn from the windsurfing boom

If you’re a beginner, an intermediate chasing cleaner gybes/takeoffs, or you’re just frothing on where foiling is going next — this one’s packed with practical insight and plenty of stoke.
🎧 Subscribe to FOILERS for more interviews with the people shaping foiling — from designers to coaches and riders.